Taco night is repeated often in our house because it is one of the only dishes my kids get excited about. Most packets of taco seasoning at the store are filled with junk including MSG, and it's likely that you will already have ingredients in your pantry to make it on your own.

Directions:

And to make sure you don't miss a post, please sign up to get posts sent to your inbox in the pink box on the side bar. (Facebook posts are only seen by a small percentage of people who like my page). Thanks!!

Who knew this particular vinegar could be so good for you? Have you guys heard about this?

Here is just a little info on Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), why I drink it, and how I've used it to stay healthy.

Here is some info from Bragg.com:

"Internal benefits:

rich in enzymes and potassium

support a healthy immune system

helps control weight

promotes digestion and pH balance

helps soothe dry throats

helps remove body sludge toxins

helps maintain healthy skin

helps promote youthful, healthy bodies

soothes irritated skin

relieves muscle pain from exercise"

Even though I cannot say that I have used ACV for all of these reasons, I believe these claims work for some people simply because it has been around for hundreds of years and if people are still using it, it must be beneficial. There is also a ton of documentation of its benefits. A Google search will bring up loads of information and uses. This is a great article that lays out its many uses.

So how do I use it? Well, whenever I think about it I will put about a teaspoon in a small glass of water and drink it. But my main use for it is to strengthen my immune system. If someone in the house is sick I will drink it. And I always drink it 2-3 times a day if I feel some kind of illness coming on. I can think of 3 separate times in the last few months when I definitely felt a cold coming on, and drinking this in addition to a couple other immune-boosting tricks (including my Lemon Water) completely got rid of the symptoms and I never got sick. Even last winter when everyone in the house had a bad stomach bug, I was able to escape it using ACV as one of my defenses.

In conclusion, whenever I learn about something that I know is good for me and also easy to incorporate into my diet, I do it. In this world we live in with so many environmental toxins we need all the health boosts we can get, don't you think? And to me, adding Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar to my arsenal of healthy tricks is a simple way to upgrade my health.

Here is the suggested way to drink it. When I put it with a little bit of water it is hard to get down - it is vinegar after all. But if you make it this way it's much more tolerable :)

I have made this so many times that it's shocking I haven't posted it yet. This is by far my favorite way to cook chicken. It is quick and easy, and fall-off-the-bone delicious. I use almost the exact same recipe as Lisa from www.100daysofrealfood.com. If you haven't checked out this website yet, you must!! There is an extensive list of recipes using only whole foods.

The good thing about this recipe is that you can adapt it and use the spices that you have. And afterward I always make chicken stock right in the crock pot. Chicken stock, especially if it is made with bones from pasture-raised chickens, is so good for you in many ways. That could be another post all on its own.

All of five of us really like this chicken. I usually serve it with broccoli or a salad (or both). I make this about once a week in the cooler months - it's that good!

Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot

Ingredients:

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 whole chicken, giblets removed

Instructions:

Combine spices together.

Place chicken in crock pot.

Rub spice mixture all over chicken.

Cook for about 4 hours on high or about 6 hours on low.

Now that the weather is cooler I will definitely be using my crock pot more often! I love to make soups in the crock pot like my Crock Pot Chicken and Cream Cheese Soup - yum! What crock pot recipes do you love?

I've talked here on the blog quite a bit about avoiding processed foods. I think a lot of us are trying to avoid processed foods lately. But have you ever thought about whether or not your salt is processed?

If you're using typical table salt, you are likely not benefitting from it, and it may even be harmful. Why not switch to a high quality sea salt that has many benefits and still, of course, will flavor your food?

celtic sea salt

This is the brand I use. I buy a big bag online and it requires a special grinder because it is a coarse, moist salt. This is the grinder I use.

Here are some reasons why you should switch to a high quality salt, such as Celtic Sea Salt:

Celtic sea salt is not processed

It has a delicious, subtle saltiness that is different than regular table salt

provides over 80 vital trace minerals

helps balance electrolyte levels

no additives and nothing is removed to alter it from its original state

This is a more expensive salt, but you will use less of it. Also, since most people use salt every day, why wouldn't you want to use a salt that has health benefits? It's a no-brainer! There are other high quality salts such as Pink Himalayan. If any of you use a sea salt other that Celtic, I would love to hear what it is and why you use it!

We all have times when we feel extra busy, but does our healthy lifestyle have to suffer?

I admit, it is very difficult for me to keep up with preparing healthy foods when we're not at home much. We've been in a rut lately with meals but now that my kids are back in school it will just be me and Grant at home (he just turned 2!). Although I loved having Sam and Riese at home all summer, I know I'll have a little more time in the afternoon while Grant naps to do some food prep (and hopefully more blogging!).

Here are my kids on their first day of school. This is the first time Riese will be away from me all day every day! I'm sure going to miss these faces.

So how do I stay healthy even when we're on the go and our calendar is packed? I stick with these simple habits that make me feel great:

7 Healthy Habits

Lemon water in the morning. I talked about this in my last post. It's a great way to hydrate first thing in the morning.

High quality vitamins. Not all vitamins are created equal! In fact, most of the brands out there don't have close to the amount of vitamins and minerals listed on the label. Find someone who sells vitamins or do you homework on the best brands for you and your family.

Eat veggies at every meal. We all think about veggies at lunch and dinner, but you should really get some veggies in at breakfast as well. It's always good to eat raw veggies with every meal, but obviously cooked veggies are awesome, too. My kids eat cucumbers every morning with their breakfast and never complain about it because it's part of our routine. I did a post on veggies in the morning here.

Healthy on-the-go snacks. If we're out running errands or taking kids all around town, it's easy to stop and get fast food. But if you're prepared with a few healthy snacks you can avoid stopping for junk food and feel so much better. For me this is usually a bag of raw almonds or an apple. For the kids it's usually apple slices or cheese sticks. It's worth the extra few minutes it takes before you walk out the door.

Exercise at least 3 times per week. Amazingly, when I'm focused, I'm able to keep up with this. It makes a HUGE difference in the way I feel so I really try to make it a priority. Lately I pop in a 20-30 minute video that is almost all strength training, while also keeping my heart rate up.

Drink lots of water. I don't have much more to say about this. I probably drink more than a gallon per day. Always keep a water bottle with you when you're on the go.

Green Drink. This is a habit that I've been keeping up with and this, too, makes me feel great. I still follow my basic recipe but I make a bigger batch in my Blendtec and I also add chia seeds and sometimes hemp seeds.

Do you have any tips for staying healthy? If so, please share! I'm always looking for new things to incorporate into my routine.

By now you may have heard about people drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning, but maybe you're not sure why. Hopefully this post will explain why it's a wonderful habit and encourage you to start doing it yourself!

I feel so great after I've had my lemon water in the morning and I look forward to drinking it every day. For me, the key to making this a daily habit is prepping everything the night before. It probably takes less than a minute, but if I don't have it ready to go in the morning, I don't drink it.

I love chicken fajitas but I really don't do a very good job of cooking chicken in a skillet. It's also incredibly difficult to cook dinner right before dinner time with our schedule so I really love crock pot meals. Everyone loves this!! Jeff and I ate ours as a salad on a bed of spinach, Grant ate his out of a bowl, Riese had a taco and Sam opted for a whole wheat tortilla.

This recipe is so simple and flavorful that I've been making it a lot the past few months. My dad is a great cook and I got this recipe from him.

I was picking up my kids from my parents' house one day and I raided the fridge, as I almost always do when I'm there. What is it about raiding your parents' pantry or fridge? My husband does it at his parents' house, too. Is it just us, or do you do it, too?? I think I'm usually looking for some yummy leftovers or for some not-so-good-for-you snacks that I don't buy myself.

Anyway, he had some of this leftover in the fridge and it was even good cold! He thinks I'm crazy for eating leftovers cold but I try to avoid microwaving food. I asked him how he made it and it's a miracle I was able to replicate it because he doesn't measure anything and usually can't give me specifics. But this recipe was so simple that I was able to come home and make it myself.

Saute the onion in olive oil until soft, then add garlic, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, capers, salt and pepper. It will look something like this:

Cut the cod into pieces, add salt and pepper, and put into a greased pan (I usually just rub some coconut oil or butter in the pan. I'm trying to avoid cooking spray).

Pour the tomato and onion mixture over the cod and bake.

I hope you enjoy it! Jeff and I love it, but the kids don't. Sometimes they'll eat leftovers if I'm making this.

Here's the recipe:

Easy Baked Cod

Ingredients:

about 1/4 cup olive oil

1-1.5 lbs wild-caught cod (always avoid farm-raised seafood)

1 can artichoke hearts, drained

1 can diced tomatoes with juice

about 2-4 tbsp capers (adjust to taste, I used 4)

2-4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 onion, cut in half then sliced

salt and pepper (try to use high quality sea salt)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an oven safe pan. If you're only using 1 lb of cod you can probably use an 8x8 or 9x9 pan.

Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5-8 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and cook about a minute. Add tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers, season with salt and pepper and cook about 5 minutes until heated through.

Cut cod into chunks, season with salt and pepper, and add the greased pan. Pour tomato and onion mixture over the cod and place in oven.

Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until the cod flakes easily with a fork.

Add more salt if necessary and try sprinkling some parmesan cheese on top. That's how we like it even though it's not in the picture. Enjoy!